Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;zesty yomegan&#39;

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Zesty Yomegan’, characterized by its upright plant habit; freely branching growth habit; uniform and freely flowering habit; duplex daisy-type inflorescences; and dark pink-colored ray florets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zesty Yomegan’.

[0002] The new Chrysanthemum is a naturally-occurring whole plantmutation of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Megan, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 8,756. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant within a population of floweringplants of the parent cultivar in October, 1996 in a controlledenvironment in Hightstown, N.J. The selection of this plant was based onits unique ray floret color.

[0003] Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttingstaken in a controlled environment in Gainesville, Florida sinceDecember, 1997, has shown that the unique features of this newChrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The cultivar Zesty Yomegan has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0005] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zesty Yomegan’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zesty Yomegan’ as a new anddistinct cultivar:

[0006] 1. Upright plant habit.

[0007] 2. Freely branching, dense, full plants.

[0008] 3. Uniform and freely flowering.

[0009] 4. Duplex daisy-type inflorescences.

[0010] 5. Dark pink-colored ray florets.

[0011] Compared to plants of the parent cultivar Megan, plants of thenew Chrysanthemum flower earlier and differ in ray floret color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0012] The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance ofthe new Chrysanthemum. These photographs show the colors as true as itis reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Chrysanthemum. The photograph at the top of thesheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘Zesty Yomegan’. The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises aclose-up view of typical inflorescences of the cultivar ‘Zesty Yomegan’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0013] In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif., underconditions which approximate those generally used in commercial gardenChrysanthemum production. One rooted cutting was planted in a 15-cmcontainer in July, 2000 and plants were grown under natural seasonconditions. Plants were not pinched, that is, the terminal apex was notremoved to enhance branching. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages for typical flowering plants.

[0014] Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar ZestyYomegan.

[0015] Commercial classification: Duplex daisy-type gardenChrysanthemum.

[0016] Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofChrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Megan, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 8,756.

[0017] Propagation:

[0018]Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.

[0019]Time to initiate roots.—About four days at 21° C.

[0020]Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About ten days at 21° C.

[0021]Root description.—White, fine and fibrous.

[0022]Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

[0023] Plant description:

[0024]Appearance.—Perennial herbaceous duplex daisy-type gardenChrysanthemum. Inverted triangle; upright plant form. Stems initiallyupright, then slightly outwardly spreading giving a uniformly flat-topto mounded appearance to the plant. Freely branching with about 10lateral branches per plant.

[0025]Plant height.—About 30 cm.

[0026]Plant diameter.—About 33 cm.

[0027]Lateral branches.—Length: About 25 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.Internode length: About 2.2 cm. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture:Pubescent. Color: 144A overlain with anthocyanin, close to 59A.

[0028]Foliage description.—Leaf arrangement: Alternate. Length: About3.4 cm. Width: About 2.8 cm. Apex: Cuspidate to mucronate. Base:Attenuate to truncate. Margin: Palmately lobed, sinuses mostlydivergent. Texture: Both surfaces, pubescent; veins prominent on lowersurface. Color: Young foliage upper surface: 147A. Young foliage lowersurface: 147B. Mature foliage upper surface: 147A. Mature foliage lowersurface: 147B. Venation, both surfaces: 146B. Petiole length: About 1.7cm. Petiole diameter: About 2 mm. Petiole color, both surfaces: 146B to146C.

[0029] Inflorescence description:

[0030]Appearance.—Duplex daisy-type inflorescence form with elongatedoblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals abovefoliage, arising from leaf axils. Disk and ray florets arrangedacropetally on a capitulum. About 9 inflorescences per lateral; about 90inflorescences per plant.

[0031]Flowering response.—Under natural season conditions, plants flowerin late September to early October in the Northern Hemisphere andcontinue to flower for at least three weeks depending on weatherconditions.

[0032]Inflorescence bud (before showing color).—Height: About 5 mm.Diameter: About 7 mm. Phyllary color: 143A.

[0033]Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5 cm. Depth (height): About1.3 cm. Disc diameter: About 9 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 4.5 mm.

[0034]Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2.4 cm.Corolla tube length: About 3.5 mm. Width: About 5 mm. Apex: Acute,emarginate or dentate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, glabrous,satiny. Orientation: Initially upright then perpendicular to thepeduncle; mostly flat to slightly convex with development. Number of rayflorets per inflorescence: About 110 in about six rows. Color: Whenopening, upper surface: Close to 186A faintly overlain with 71A. Whenopening, lower surface: Close to 186A. Opened inflorescence, uppersurface: Close to 186A faintly overlain with 71A. Opened inflorescence,lower surface: Close to 186A to 186B.

[0035]Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, apex dentate. Length: About 6 mm.Width: Apex: About 1.5 mm. Base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets perinflorescence: About 30. Color: Immature: 154A. Mature: Apex: 9A.Mid-section: 154D. Base: 155D.

[0036]Peduncle.—Aspect: Flexible, angled about 40° from the stem.Length: First peduncle: About 6.1 cm. Fourth peduncle: About 9.4 cm.Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146A.

[0037]Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only.Anther color: 9A. Pollen: None. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and discflorets.

[0038]Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

[0039] Disease resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not beenshown to be resistant to pathogens common to Chrysanthemums.

[0040] Garden performance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have beenobserved to be tolerant to rain and wind.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plantnamed ‘Zesty Yomegan’, as illustrated and described.